The room was enveloped in a soft, dim glow, the only light emanating from a small lamp perched atop a worn wooden desk. Eldric lay sprawled on the modest bed, his damp hair splayed across the pillow after a refreshing bath. The lingering scent of stale wood mixed with the faint aroma of soap, creating an oddly comforting atmosphere amid the unsettling circumstances.
Despite Reona's advice to rest, Eldric's mind was far from peaceful. His eyes stared blankly at the cracked ceiling above, thoughts racing uncontrollably.
He exhaled slowly. "So, what now?" Eldric muttered. Reona had insisted he take some rest, but there wasn't a trace of sleep in his eyes. How could he sleep after everything that had happened? In the span of a single day, his entire world had been flipped upside down. It was a miracle he hadn't completely broken down.
"Should I explore?" He considered exploring his surroundings, but quickly dismissed the idea. Reona had mentioned that he was 'marked' by one of the monsters, though Eldric wasn't sure if it was the truth or a tactic to keep him confined. Regardless, venturing outside seemed reckless, especially with so little knowledge about this strange new reality.
"Sigh…" Eldric breathed out, the weight of his situation pressing heavily on his chest. He felt completely lost, isolated in this strange place. For a moment, he had even forgotten about the small camera perched in the corner of the ceiling, silently watching him.
Minutes blurred into hours as Eldric sat motionless, his mind spiraling.
"I should try to get my phone back," he mumbled, trying to distract himself. His phone and flashlight were left behind in his house, abandoned in his panic to escape the monster. The thought gnawed at him. That phone was his last connection to the world he knew, and without it, he felt more alone than ever.
Lost in contemplation, Eldric was startled by the sudden sound of approaching footsteps echoing through the quiet corridor. He instinctively sat up, his body tensing as he directed his gaze toward the partially open door.
"Uh!" The silhouette of a figure emerged from the shadows, gradually coming into focus as it neared. Eldric's eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight of a young fair-skinned woman entering the room.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, standing tall at nearly six feet with an athletic build that exuded strength and confidence. Her short, raven-black hair framed a sharp, striking face, accentuated by piercing blue eyes that seemed to scrutinize everything they saw. Dressed in a well-worn leather jacket, fitted jeans, and sturdy boots, she moved with a purposeful grace, a leather belt adorned with various knives secured around her waist. In her hand, she carried a small tin can, presumably containing food and a water bottle.
Eldric's breath hitched at the sight of her. His heartbeat quickened as he stared at the woman in front of him, his mind whirling with confusion.
"This little..." The woman's expression darkened when she noticed the way he looked at her. Anger flickered in her eyes as she clenched the can of food tightly. If not for whatever orders were holding her back, she would have taught him a painful lesson.
"Your eyes..." Eldric's voice cracked the tension, his words causing the woman's expression to shift from fury to surprise. He barely noticed her reaction, lost in his own bewildered thoughts. "They seem… so familiar."
For a moment, Eldric felt his breath hitch, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him as he gazed at her. His mind scrambled to a place where he might have seen her before, but the harder he tried, the more elusive the connection became.
The woman's eyes flickered over him, assessing and guarded. Noticing his prolonged stare, her expression hardened, a flicker of irritation crossing her features.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer," she snapped, her voice low and edged with annoyance.
Eldric blinked, jolted out of his reverie by her sharp words. Realizing he'd been staring, a flush of embarrassment crept up his neck.
"S-sorry," he stammered, raising his hands defensively. "I didn't mean to—it's just... you look familiar somehow."
She arched a skeptical eyebrow and shook her head with a blank expression. "Don't try your luck," she retorted, tossing the tin can onto the bed beside him with a swift motion. "Eat."
Eldric glanced down at the can, his stomach choosing that moment to rumble loudly. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until now. Grateful despite her brusque demeanor, he picked up the can, struggling momentarily with the lid before prying it open. The scent of preserved meat wafted up, making his mouth water.
"Thank you," he murmured sincerely before taking a hearty bite. The food was cold and bland, but it filled the gnawing emptiness in his stomach, providing a much-needed comfort.
The woman pulled out the solitary chair in the room and sat down, crossing her legs as she continued to observe him intently. Her gaze was unwavering, making Eldric shift uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
"So, where did you come from?" she asked abruptly, her tone direct.
"They didn't tell you?" Eldric replied cautiously, swallowing the last of his meal. He didn't know how to answer. There was no way he could explain that he'd come from a parallel world.
"Reona said you came from outside and lost your memory." The woman's voice was flat, but Eldric could sense the skepticism beneath her words. He exhaled in relief.
"Yeah," he nodded quickly. "I don't remember much."
"Really?" The woman tilted her head, her frown deepening as if she was trying to read between the lines of his story. She didn't press further, though. Having lived in the town all her life, she was familiar with every resident. The sudden appearance of an outsider was suspicious, but not entirely implausible.
"Really," Eldric affirmed, even patting his chest for emphasis.
"That's too bad," the woman muttered, clicking her tongue in disappointment. For a brief moment, her eyes had brightened with hope—the idea of someone from outside reaching their isolated town had sparked a flicker of excitement. But now, that excitement was gone, replaced by a heavy sense of defeat.
She tossed him a bottle of water, which he gratefully accepted. "Thanks," Eldric said between gulps, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He noticed her still sitting in front of him, deep in thought.
"So... how much can you remember?" she asked, refusing to drop the subject. Years of living in the darkness had robbed her of any hope of escape, but Eldric's arrival had reignited something inside her—a fragile, flickering hope that there might be a way out.
Eldric hesitated. "Not much, honestly," he admitted, anxiety bubbling up inside him. He tried to keep his face neutral, but he could feel her eyes boring into him.
"But still... what do you remember?" she pressed.
Eldric sighed, realizing she wouldn't let it go. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and speak with some hesitation, as if trying to remember, "I remember the world outside being pretty much the same as here. Something attacked our town, and I barely managed to escape. I wandered around in the darkness for a while, before I ended up here and got chased by a monster. After that... everything went black and when I woke up, I was here."
The room fell into an awkward silence as Eldric finished his fabricated story. He glanced at the woman, hoping his words had satisfied her curiosity.
But her expression had changed. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she raised an eyebrow. This sudden expression of the smile on her usual cold face formed a stark contrast from before.
"For someone who's lost his memory, you sure remember a lot."
Eldric's heart skipped a beat. His palms began to sweat, and for a brief moment, he wanted to laugh to ease the tension, but he forced himself to remain serious.
"Fuck..." he cursed internally. He had overplayed his hand.
Looking at her nervously, Eldric was waiting for her next question, but to his surprise, she didn't ask. She just gave him a deep meaningful glance before standing up.
"Since you're stuck here for now, might as well make yourself useful," she said suddenly, her tone still cold. "For the time being, help me with some chores. Since you are still new, your tasks will be relatively simple."
Instead of a request, Eldric felt like she was ordering him. "This." With a frown, he narrowed his eyes, wanting to refuse her, but after thinking for a moment, he didn't. At least, doing something was better than sitting here and constantly worrying about the monsters and his pitiful fate.
"Then, I will meet you tomorrow." Without wasting another second, the woman turned around and walked out of the room, leaving behind the figure of Eldric who seemed to be lost.
"Sigh..." Left alone in the quiet room, Eldric exhaled deeply, a mix of exhaustion and relief washing over him. This was perhaps the most dangerous and exciting day of his life. From escaping to being held captive and in the end, being free. Everything happened so fast, that Eldric was still unable to process it clearly.
Settling back onto the bed, he allowed his tense muscles to relax, eyelids growing heavy as the events of the day finally caught up to him. The soft hum of the lamp and the lingering warmth from his meal lulled him into a state of drowsiness.
As sleep began to claim him, Eldric's thoughts drifted to the days ahead and the challenges they would bring. Uncertainty still loomed large, and there was even a tinge of doubt whether he would survive or not. But for now... For now, he was at least safe...
With that comforting thought, he closed his eyes, surrendering to the embrace of a much-needed rest.